Job summary
- Main area
- Research Assistant Psychologist
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- 12 months (fixed term)
- Hours
- Part time - 18.75 hours per week
- Job ref
- 425-25-7217820
- Employer
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Sheffield
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Clinical Psychologist (Research)
NHS AfC: Band 5
Job overview
Fixed Term: 12 months | 18.75 hrs per week | Hybrid
We're looking for someone to join the Paediatric Psychology Service at Sheffield Children's Hospital. You will support a qualitative research project focused on exploring play in infants with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), and support broader research and clinical activities within the department.
About You: You will have an upper second-class honours degree (minimum) in Psychology and be eligible for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society. You will bring experience conducting research beyond your degree, with skills in both qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the ability to present findings.
An interest in clinical health psychology and working with children and families is essential. Experience or knowledge of rare conditions such as OI, or working in hospital settings, would be advantageous.
This is a unique opportunity to gain both research and clinical experience in a supportive, specialist paediatric psychology environment. Supervision and training will be provided by experienced clinical and research staff.
Main duties of the job
Reporting into the Clinical Psychologist, your responsibilities will include:
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Support a qualitative research project exploring play in infants with OI.
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Conduct interviews, observations, data analysis, and contribute to academic outputs.
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Help develop service audits, evaluations, and outcome measures.
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Contribute to wider departmental research activity, service development and funding applications.
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Participate in clinical work with children and families under supervision of a Senior Clinical Psychologist.
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Foster collaborative relationships, including with research partners and multidisciplinary team members.
Working for our organisation
At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health.
We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.
We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England — and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire — in the latest NHS Staff Survey.
Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.
As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.
We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts — helping you thrive at work and beyond.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at [email protected]. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.
#LI-Hybrid
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
- An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Desirable criteria
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of child development or professional psychology.
- MSc Research Methods or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Some previous relevant work experience – paid or voluntary work – preferably in the health or social care setting.
- Evidence of ability to use own initiative in effective, timely completion of projects where significant blocks of work are undertaken without close supervision.
- Experience of research post degree level.
- Experience of presentation of research findings.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with children and families.
- Experience of work with patients or clients in health or social care.
- Experience of involving service users in service development or evaluation.
- Experience as assistant psychologist or audit officer.
- Experience in dissemination of research.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive – with both patients and professional staff.
- Well-developed ICT skills for communication, databases, data-analysis and presentation
- Degree level competencies in quantitative & qualitative data analysis and presentation especially SPSS, Access, Excel and Web-based skills.
- Evidence of a high standard of report and research writing.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a children’s psychological service.
Desirable criteria
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues including in situations where there are significant barriers of understanding or hostility to acceptance and where empathy and reassurance are required.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of children with psychological problems and their families.
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Well-developed time–management skills & self-organising skills: a demonstrated ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact with children and their carers and families who use our services.
Desirable criteria
- An interest in working with children with psychological problems and their families.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Rebecca Jones
- Job title
- Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0114 2717296
- Additional information
Working days: Tues, Wed, Fri (9:00 - 17:00)
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